South High Senior Living

After decades of neglect, the former South High School building was on the verge of demolition. Local preservation activists convinced Knoxville’s city council to protect the structure with a historic easement and searched for a plan to return the building to useful life. A project team was chosen that included the firm founded by the original school’s architect.

The challenges of the original load-bearing masonry structure and historic nature were balanced with the considerations of accessibility, security and energy conservation to create a licensed medical facility. The renovation seeks to respect the iconic architecture of the original building, including its high ceilings and grand scale. The former gymnasium is now an expansive dining hall and living room, utilizing the original steel trusses. Resident rooms were fit within the dimensions of original classrooms. Three restaurant-style dining centers, an outdoor courtyard, wellness center, salon, billiards room, and multiple lounges encourage social engagement and physical activity. A daylight garden brings additional natural light into the memory care corridor.

The adaptive reuse highlights sustainable design strategies including low-flow bathroom fixtures, LED lighting, durable and reused materials and structures, native and drought-resistant plantings, and clerestory windows and daylight garden to enhance access to natural light.